The Epidemiological Clinicopathological Studies in Europe (EClipSE) is the harmonisation of neuropathological and longitudinal clinical data of brain donors from three population-based prospective longitudinal studies of ageing and dementia which include a brain donation program in Europe.

There are only six such studies in the world.  The three studies included are: the Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study (MRC CFAS; England and Wales,www.cfas.ac.uk), the Cambridge City over-75s Cohort study (England, www.cc75c.group.cam.ac.uk) and the Vantaa 85+ study (Finland).

All studies interviewed study participants at regular intervals (between 1 and 7 years) to assess for the presence of dementia and other health-related conditions as well as sociodemographic details.  Baseline surveys were conducted in 1985 (CC75C), 1989-1993 (MRC CFAS) and 1991 (Vantaa 85+). The major difference between the studies is the participants’ age at baseline: 65+ for CFAS, 75+ for CC75C and 85+ for Vantaa 85+.